Snowden Wouldn’t Tip Galah to Win Sandown Stakes 2013

They may be leading the markets for the 2013 Sandown Stakes this weekend but Galah could very easily disappoint the favourite backers again according to their trainer Peter Snowden.

Galah could go down as the beaten favourite in the Sandown Stakes 2013 on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

The bookies are taking no chances on Snowden’s in-form Redoute’s Choice five-year-old who they have installed as the $3.80 favourite in the markets for the $150,000 Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1400m) held at Caulfield Racecourse on Saturday.

Snowden however isn’t so sure he would be putting his money on the stallion as they’ve been a frustrating sort of horse for the punters over their 20 career starts.

“He’s done it a few times to people,” Snowden told The Daily Telegraph.

Winner of the Group 2 Magic Millions QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm during the winter, this time in Galah has had three starts for two top three placings.

First-up they were seventh to Saturday’s Kevin Heffernan Stakes favourite Platelet in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington before their third to last weekend’s Emirates Stakes champ Boban in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) in a luckless run.

Last start on November 2 the Darley-owned galloper jumped top fancy in the Group 3 TAB.com.au Stakes (1400m) at Flemington but was defeated by nearly two lengths by upset winner Smokin’ Joey.

They get their chance to atone in the Sandown Stakes over the same distance this weekend from a nice barrier three draw with Kerrin McEvoy staying on.

“He never runs a bad race,” Snowden said.

“He won a Group 2 in Brisbane, and he beat a pretty good horse (Conservatorium) in doing so who later came out to win the Ipswich Eyeliner.

“He can gallop, he just needs everything to fall right.

“He got his chance at Flemington (last start), he chimed in at the furlong and was run down by a horse (Smokin’ Joey) who ran second in the Emirates.

“His form is good, but there’s always an excuse.”

While confident he’s got the galloper in the best condition fitness wise for the run, Snowden still isn’t sure if they’re deserving of their short price in the markets.

“I wouldn’t tip him Saturday, but I also wouldn’t say he couldn’t win,” he said.

The other top Sandown Stakes betting fancies then that punters may start to look at are market mover Richie’s Vibe ($4) coming off a win in a Listed Melbourne Cup Day sprint and Mahisara ($4.60) who is second up for the season after running fifth in that same race.

The other favourite Snowden will saddle up at Saturday’s meet is his last start Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes winner Paximadia in the $350,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).

“He won well first-up at Flemington, then got shuffled back at Caulfield and resented being back in the ruck,” Snowden said speaking of firstly their Poseidon victory on October 5 and then their luckless eighth to Hucklebuck in the Gothic Stakes a fortnight later.

“We were positive last start, as we were first-up, and that was the difference. We’ll be riding him in the same vain on Saturday.”

Paximadia pays $3.30 to win the Guineas and should get every chance to go forward and put themselves into the race from their nice barrier five draw.

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